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OPINION:Let us change the words on the Gateway to the North sign

While other municipalities have progressive councils that seek to bring attractions to their towns, our council takes a different tack.
dionne quints museum 2 turl
The Dionne Museum could be on the move --- back home. Photo by Jeff Turl.

Written by Bob Deschene, North Bay.

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The recent controversy concerning the future of the Dionne Home is a symptom of what is wrong with our Mayor and the Council.

Governments, federal or provincial or municipal have often used a well-known tactic to cut something, and that is reduce its budget, don‘t spend money on advertising, cut hours and eventually the public will come to regard it as not worth saving.

I believe the fall in the number of visitors to the home was a result of this tactic. It is obvious that the decision to sell the land, that the Dionne Home sits on, was a done deal before the council presented the opportunity to have groups make proposals re: the future of the home.

While other municipalities have progressive councils that seek to bring attractions to their towns, our council takes a different tack.

Recently the mayor turned down a request for the Bikers Battling Cancer Rally over the Canada Day weekend because it would have cost $52,000.00. On CTV news the rally organizer said they got tired of waiting for a response from the city and approached the town of Powassan. The mayor of Powassan was very happy to say yes to the 1,500 to 3,000 participants who will spend money for accommodations and food at the rally.

The mayor of Timmins has boldly put forth a new 3.5 million dollars 8-day international fireworks competition next summer. Our Summer in the Park festival limps along with an axe over its head as council threatens to cut funding if it doesn’t break even. It was cancelled one summer but apparently, the hotel and restaurant owners complained so it got a second chance.

And so we come to the Dionne Home. The contribution of the Dionne story to our area cannot be overestimated; it put North Bay on the map. But History means little to this council; what matters is the 1.9 million dollars the land was sold for.

After all, what we need is another burger joint and a hotel not a link to our past.

Hey here’s an idea, let us change the words on the Gateway to the North sign to NORTH BAY ANYTHING FOR A BUCK. A concerned citizen

by Bob Deschene, North Bay.